Winchcombe Pottery

This delightful very small lidded pot was in a lot purchased at auction. The Facebook group have been really helpful in determining that it is really early Winchcombe possibly a test piece. Elijah comfort, Michael cardew are names that have been mentioned as possible makers including Ray Finch. I don’t know enough about winchcombe or the potters who served there to make any sort of judgement, I’m hoping someone on here can offer some further knowledge and might recognise the work. Many thanks

I do not think it is Elijah Comfort or Michael Cardew. That bottom is rather messy and both were professional potters. It has the feel of an apprentice piece. In that case the overwhelmingly likely maker would be Sidney Tustin who joined Winchcombe pottery in 1927 and was apprenticed to Michael Cardew 1930-34. He was a stalwart of Winchcombe pottery and worked there until 1979. As an early Sid Tustin piece, I can see people keeping it in their collection.
Other possible but probably less likely, are Sid's brother Charlie Tustin who joined Winchcombe in 1935. Another outside possibility would be Ray Finch himself who worked at Winchcombe from 1936.
The clay is unusual, as generally Winchcombe used a darker red earthenware clay.
If you are interested in Winchcombe the best book on it is WINCHCOMBE POTTERY by Ron Wheeler, from which most of the into above is taken.

Many thanks really interesting, learning all the time

Its an interesting piece. But it is a bit like pre-war St Ives earthenware pieces. Unless they have a personal mark, the maker is always guessing work by style and form. Hence this probably being an apprentice piece. Because of its style and faults it is not a perfect professional piece, and would probably not have been sold at Winchcombe. More likely to have been kept as a souvenir by a developing apprentice. Hence its survival, which is rare.

Yeh I agree. It’s a sweet little piece though. Many thanks for the information

You might find the threads we have on here interesting about Winchcombe, Worth a browse. There is a lot on interesting information around. Put Wicncombe, Tustin or Finch in the search box.
This is the main Winchcombe thread.
https://www.20thcenturyforum.com/t7608-winchcombe-pottery?highlight=winchcombe

You might also like to have a look at Ebay under Winchcombe pottery. There are always a load of pieces on there from various eras

Will do

Earthenware pressed moulded dish with Winchcombe seal only.

Hi All

Nice Slipware Plate with PW mark - again no luck.

Any ideas?

TIA

Chip

It is now quite old. They stopped making earthenware in the mid 1960's.Interesting slip trailed design as well.

Thanks for the info guys - much appreciated.

Is there any way of telling which potter made this? It only has the Winchcombe mark. I did actually contact Winchcombe pottery about it and they thought it was from the 1970’s. Any idea who was working there then?

The short answer is No,as to who made it. It was a production pottery, and the whole idea of the standard ware range was uniformity. You could buy individual pieces again and again and be sure they would be exactly alike.
Moreover the mark used was one used for nigh on twenty years, when Winchcombe pottery was at peak sales. Cranks the famed vegetarian restaurant used their standard ware and it was very popular!

Ah oh well, I thought that might be the case. I was hoping it might be by Ray Finch as I have seen some incredibly similar in style and glaze by him, but I don’t think it has the dot in the mark. It’s a really lovely piece. Whoever it was they were very skilled anyway! Thanks for the reply. Cat

The same type of piece is still available in their present day range.With slight differences. The cost of £35 being the main one!
https://www.winchcombepottery.co.uk/the-range

Matt from Winchcombe seemed to think it was a 1970’s piece, though why I don’t know! It’s quite large I think compared to those in their current range... it doesn’t really matter it’s a really beautifully done piece. I just prefer to know who made it if possible, even if not a well known name. I like to put a person to my pottery!

A small terracotta jug by Pat Groom.

My latest Winchcombe acquisition is a large plate (~28cm dia) with a teadust tenmoku glaze. There is a slight firing/glaze issue visible at 7 o'clock but that just gives it character I feel.

Quite a weighty piece, I really would like a set of 6 of these, they would match the (non Winchcombe) tenmoku mugs that I have.

EDIT: Why are my images not showing?

You might find this link helpful
https://www.20thcenturyforum.com/t3971-how-to-upload-photos-to-your-posts

philpot wrote:You might find this link helpful
https://www.20thcenturyforum.com/t3971-how-to-uploaThanksd-photos-to-your-posts

Thanks Philpot. I've loaded pics before but forgot the correct sequence of button presses. I think they are now loaded.

BTW, is there any way to fix a possible date on this plate?

Jay.

Hi all, picked this one up. Not held a Tustin before so not sure. It feels incredibly light, the stamp and pattern look good, thoughts please